J 164 
MONDAY, MAY 23, 1859. 
Rey. Samvet Haveuton, A. M., F.R.8., &., in the Chair. 
W. R. Witps, Esq., read the continuation of his paper ‘On the un- 
manufactured Animal Remains in the collection of the Academy.” 
MONDAY, JUNE 13, 1859. 
James HentHorn Topp, D. D., President, in the Chair. 
Wires the leave of the Academy, Mr. EK. Ciiszorn read the first part of 
his paper— 
ON THE USE OF THE DISTAFF AND SPINDLE CONSIDERED AS THE INSIGNIA 
OF UNMARRIED WOMEN. 
Tue object of the author was to explain how far the use of the distaff 
and spindle could be considered applicable in literature and art, as 
insignia of women, in different countries, and at different times. 
In contra-distinction to a paper published in the ‘‘ Archzologia,”’ 
vol, xxxvil., by J. R. Akerman, Esq., it was contended that, as unmar- 
ried women, in the middle ages, were considered spinsters, and as mar- 
ried women, or wives, were considered weavers, the application of the 
implements used by spmners might with propriety be assigned as insig- 
nia to the unmarried, but not to the married, whose proper insignia 
should connect them with the loom or its productions, rather than with 
spinning. 
‘< It was explained, that the usage by Shakspeare of the words ‘‘distaff,” 
‘‘distaff-women,’’ and ‘‘spinster,” clearly implied a different, and indeed 
an opposite meaning, as insignia, for the distaff and spindle; and also 
proved, that, in the instances where married women claimed to use, or 
intended to use the distaff, they tacitly declared their intention of repu- 
diating their marriage vows. They thus indirectly proclaimed them- 
selves free from the control of their husbands, and so, were practically 
acting as unmarried women; the distaff was, consequently, a fitting but 
exceptional insignia for them. Instances from Shakspeare were given, 
to show that the general notion of rebellion, public as well as private, 
on the part of women, was indicated by the distaff, apparently in con- 
tra-distinction to the spindle; and Shakspeare, in so using the distaff, 
had the warrant of antiquity, the Fates appearing to be almost always 
armed with distaffs; and other goddesses, like Minerva, hold the distaff 
as the emblem of dominion, rule, or power, but not of marital obedience, 
and domestic subjection, indicated by the spindle, which, as an insignia 
of the unmarried woman, had almost opposite meanings to the distaff, 
also considered as an emblem of condition. 
It was suggested that the same rules of language which gave us 
the terms spinster and distaff-woman for single females, derived from the 
spindle and distaff, should also supply another name for women, consi- 
dered unmarried, from the ancient name in English of the verticillum, or 
